Capital.com is preparing to launch spot cryptocurrency trading in the United Arab Emirates after its affiliate, Capital Vault UAE, secured a full virtual-asset license from the country's Capital Markets Authority. The license allows Capital Vault to deal in virtual assets as an agent or matching principal and to provide custody services on behalf of clients. Once the service goes live, UAE customers will be able to buy and hold actual digital assets directly through the Capital.com app, with the affiliate handling execution, custody and settlement. This marks a departure from Capital.com's existing contracts-for-difference model, which gives traders price exposure without ownership of the underlying asset. Capital Vault operates as a separately regulated entity, with governance, custody and risk arrangements kept distinct from Capital.com's other businesses. The affiliate has opened an office in Abu Dhabi and is assembling a local team dedicated to virtual assets. Beyond the initial spot focus, Capital.com plans to roll out additional crypto-related products in a phased UAE expansion. The approval follows the UAE Capital Markets Authority's introduction of a virtual-asset regulatory framework in April 2026, which expanded regulated activities from three to eight and added requirements covering business conduct, alternative trading systems, anti-money laundering controls and prudential standards. Capital.com has not yet published a launch date, a list of supported assets or a fee schedule. The move reflects a broader pattern among traditional trading platforms that are adding regulated spot crypto access rather than relying solely on derivative products.